Country music legend Dr. Ralph Stanley plays The Colonial Saturday

It is astonishing to think that 75-year-old Dr. Ralph Stanley is celebrating 66 years as a working musician. A pioneer of American blue grass banjo music, Stanley, whose technique is often referred to as “Stanley Style,” has sustained his creative integrity by remaining loyal to his musical roots.

Stanley is the recipient of numerous honors, including a National Heritage Award (1984), induction into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor (1992), a Grand Ole Opry Lifetime Achievement Award (2000), the Living Legend Award from the Library of Congress and a National Medal of Arts given by President George W. Bush (1992). He also received an honorary doctorate in 1976 from Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee.

Born and raised in rural southwestern Virginia, where he still resides, Stanley vividly recalls, “I got my first banjo when I was a teenager. I was 15, 16 years old. My aunt had this old banjo, and Mother bought it for me. She paid $5 for it, which back then was probably like $5,000.”

Following a year in the army after graduating from high school, Stanley, along with his brother Carter, formed the “Clinch Mountain Boys.” Strongly influenced by Bill Monroe and the Carter Family (later of Johnny Cash fame), the Boys focused their musical style on the traditions of the country, mountain and gospel music they had grown accustomed to in their youth.

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Over the next 20 years, the Stanley Brothers established themselves as one of country music’s most popular acts. They performed songs such as “Angel Band,” “Rank Strangers,” “Little Maggie” and “Man Of Constant Sorrow.”

In 1966, Carter Stanley tragically passed away at age 41. Ralph was suddenly faced with the difficult decision of whether to continue solo or quit music altogether.

“I was worried,” recalls Ralph. “I didn’t know if I could do it by myself. But boy I got letters — 3,000 of ‘em — and phone calls. I went to Syd Nathan at King Records, our record label, and asked him if he wanted me to go on. He said, ‘Hell yes!’”

Dozens of album releases, thousands of concert appearances and decades later, Stanley, who has been married to his wife Jimmi for more than 50 years, credits his success to living a clean life.

“I’ve taken care of myself,” reflects Stanley. “I’ve never done a drug or been a dope addict or anything like that. I always took care of myself and managed to stay like I am. I’ve never done anything to endanger my heath or to hurt my voice.”

Stanley received his first Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for the song “Oh Death,” which was featured in the 2002 film and soundtrack “O Brother Where Art Thou.”

“That put the icing on the cake for me,” recalls Stanley. “It put me in a different category.”

Stanley’s highly anticipated and critically acclaimed autobiography, “Man of Constant Sorrow,” came to fruition in 2009.

Performing as many as 100 concert dates a year, Stanley has no plans to retire anytime soon.

“I’m just thankful and surprised that people are still coming out,” says Stanley. “You don’t see many people my age doing this. People say my voice is better than ever. We sell out a lot. When I sing a song and see people enjoying themselves, I still love it.”

“I’m very proud of my years in the music business,” says Stanley. “God gave me the strength and made it possible for me to do this. I consider myself to be very lucky to do what I can do. It thrills me. I’d like to thank people all over the world for hanging in there with me, and I’m thankful that the Lord has blessed me. There’s one more thing that I would like. I’d like to be entered into the Country Music Hall of Fame.”

Dr. Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys perform at the Colonial Theatre, located at 227 Bridge Street in Phoenixville, this Saturday at 8:00 P.M. Tickets are $27.50 to $42.50 and are available at the Colonial Theatre Box Office by calling 610-917-1228 or on-line at www.ticketturtle.com. All ages are welcome at the Colonial. To stay up to date on all future shows go to www.thecolonialtheatre.com.